Preparation for Magh Mela 2026: 27 special trains got additional stoppage in Prayagraj, now they will stop at these stations also

Varanasi/Prayagraj, 1 January. The North Eastern Railway (NER) administration is operating additional facility special trains for the pilgrims visiting Magh Mela 2026. Along with this, additional temporary stoppage of two minutes has also been done in many trains. Meanwhile, NER Chief Public Relations Officer Pankaj Kumar told Gurular that 27 special trains will be provided additional stoppages at Prayagraj, Rambagh and Jhunsi stations on various dates.

Their trains will have additional stops

• Temporary halt of 22581 Ballia-New Delhi Express running from Ballia on 13 and 14 January, 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• Temporary halt of 22582 New Delhi-Ballia Express running from New Delhi on 12, 13, 19 and 20 January, 2026 will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• From Jaynagar to run on 01, 02, 03, 04, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15 February, 2026. Temporary halt of 11062 Jaynagar-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• To run from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on 01, 02, 03, 04, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15 February, 2026. Temporary halt of 11062 Jaynagar-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• From Sitamarhi on 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 January, 01, 02, 13, 14, 15, 16 February, 2026. Temporary stoppage of 14005 Sitamarhi-Anand Vihar Terminus Express running on 10th May will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• From Anand Vihar Terminus on 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15, February, Temporary stoppage of 14006 Anand Vihar Terminus – Sitamarhi Express scheduled on 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• Temporary halt of 22427 Ballia-Anand Vihar Terminus Express running from Ballia on 04, 18, 25 January, 01 and 15 February, 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• Temporary halt of 22428 Anand Vihar Terminus-Ballia Express running from Anand Vihar Terminus on 03, 17, 24, 31 January and 14 February, 2026 will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• From Jaynagar to run on 01, 02, 03, 04, 09, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15 February, 2026. Temporary halt of 12561 Jaynagar-New Delhi Express will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• To run from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on 01, 02, 03, 04, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15 February, 2026. Temporary halt of 12562 New Delhi-Jayanagar Express will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• Temporary halt of 11034 Darbhanga-Pune Express running from Darbhanga on 02, 16, 23, 30 January and 13 February, 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• Temporary halt of 11033 Pune-Darbhanga Express running from Pune on 14th and 21st January, 2026 will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• Temporary halt of 15267 Raxaul-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express running from Raxaul on 03, 17, 24, 31 January and 01, 08, 22 February, 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• Temporary stoppage of 15268 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus – Raxaul Express running from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on 12 January and 19 February, 2026 will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• Temporary halt of 15559 Darbhanga-Ahmedabad Express leaving Darbhanga on 24th and 21st January, 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• Temporary halt of 15560 Ahmedabad-Darbhanga Express running from Ahmedabad on 02, 16, 23, 30 January and 13 February, 2026 will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh-Jhunsi stations.
• From New Delhi to run on 01, 02, 03, 04, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15 February, 2026. Temporary halt of 12582 New Delhi-Banaras Express will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• From Gorakhpur to run on 01, 02, 03, 04, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15 February, 2026. Temporary halt of 15004 Gorakhpur-Kanpur Anwarganj Express will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• From Kanpur Anwarganj on 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 January, 01, 02, 13, 14, 15, 16 February, 2026. Temporary stoppage of 15003 Kanpur Anwarganj-Gorakhpur Express will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• Temporary halt of 20962 Banaras-Udhna Express running from Banaras on 14th and 21st January, 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• Temporary stoppage of 20961 Udhna-Banaras Express running from Udhna on 13th and 20th January, 2026 will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• Temporary halt of 12946 Banaras-Veraval Express running from Banaras on 14th and 21st January, 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.
• Temporary halt of 12945 Veraval-Banaras Express from Veraval on 12th and 19th January, 2026 will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• From Howrah to run on 01, 02, 03, 04, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15 February, 2026. Temporary halt of 12333 Howrah-Prayagraj Rambagh Express will be provided at Jhunsi station.
• Prayagraj to run from Rambagh on 01, 02, 03, 04, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 January, 01, 12, 13, 14, 15 February, 2026. Temporary halt of 12334 Prayagraj Rambagh-Howrah Express will be provided at Jhunsi station.
• Temporary stoppage of 11037 Pune-Gorakhpur Express originating from Pune on 01, 15, 22, 29 January and 12 February, 2026 will be provided at Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations.
• Temporary halt of 11038 Gorakhpur-Pune Express running from Gorakhpur on 03, 17, 24, 31 January and 14 February, 2026 will be provided at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations.

Trains stop at Prayagraj station

Keeping in view the convenience of the devotees during Magh Mela 2026, the Railway Administration has changed the stoppage of many important trains at Prayag station. From January 1, 2026 to February 20, 2026, a total of 22 trains have been given an additional two-minute stoppage at Prayagraj station. This arrangement has been implemented keeping in mind the increasing number of pilgrims coming to Magh Mela and easy transportation.

superfast, Stoppage of Express and Vande Bharat

Chief Public Relations Officer of North Central Railway (NCR) Shashikant Tripathi said that the new system has become effective from January 1. The trains which have been given additional stops also include Superfast, Express and Vande Bharat trains. This will provide a lot of convenience to the passengers alighting at Prayag station during Magh Mela and will also help in crowd management.

These major trains stop at Prayag station

In this sequence, the railway administration has decided to stop a total of 22 trains including Indore-Varanasi Superfast Express, Bandra Terminal-Ghazipur City Express, Purva Express, Chennai Central-Chhapra Superfast, Lokmanya Tilak-Gorakhpur Express, Lokmanya Tilak-Ayodhya Cantt Express, Yesvantpur-Lucknow Express, Godan Express, Chhapra Express, Durg-Nautanwa Express at Prayag station for an additional two minutes. Apart from this, Gorakhpur-Prayagraj and Prayagraj-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express will also get additional stoppage during this period.

Emphasis on passenger convenience

Shashikant Tripathi says that this decision has been taken with the aim of improving the convenience of passengers, safe movement and time management in the Magh Mela area. The railway administration has appealed to the passengers to get the updated timetable of the concerned train before travelling, so that there is no inconvenience.

Indian Railways’ first railway loco-themed restaurant in Prayagraj

Meanwhile, Prayagraj Division of North Central Railway has taken a big step towards setting up the first railway loco-themed restaurant, registering a new achievement in the history of Indian Railways. This innovative restaurant will be established in Prayagraj Chhivki station premises, for which the tender process has been completed. The project was conceptualized by General Manager Naresh Pal Singh.

The restaurant will provide a memorable experience to the passengers: With the support of Principal Chief Commercial Manager Brijendra Kumar, guidance of Divisional Railway Manager Rajneesh Aggarwal and leadership of Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Coaching) Harimohan, the Commerce Department of Prayagraj Division has successfully allotted the tender for a rail loco-themed restaurant. This tender has been awarded to M/s Boon N Zeel Enterprises. Based on the theme of Rail Loco, this restaurant will give a different and memorable dining experience to the passengers.

The attractiveness of the station premises will increase

According to CPRO Shashikant Tripathi, this initiative will not only increase the convenience of passengers and the attractiveness of the station premises, but will also develop new sources of non-fare revenue. This project has been approved in Prayagraj division for 10 years, in which the annual license fee has been fixed at Rs 14.59 lakh. The total value of the entire contract is approximately Rs 1.96 crore, excluding taxes.

Such innovative projects aim to improve the overall travel experience of passengers and create sustainable sources of income. This initiative of rail loco-themed restaurant is considered an important step towards passenger-centric thinking, innovation and economic sustainability of Indian Railways.